Product Development Projects

Vehicle Data Collection System

This system was created to measure the retroreflectivity of the stripes on the road to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

A laser scans the road and takes high speed measurements at normal vehicle speed. Video is recorded with an overlay of the scanned data and map location of the scan location.

Upon returning the data is uploaded into a database. All the collected data can be viewed overlayed on maps through an online interface, which enables municipalities to maintain compliance and plan repairs.

The system uses three interconnected computers that work together to collect and process the data and video in real time.

Countertop Template Digitizer

The customer had us design an electronic system to template countertops for replacement with granite.

We developed an embedded controller that tracks high-resolution encoders to accurately measure the kitchen. The controller connects via Bluetooth to a mobile app that captures the template data and sends it to the factory for cutting.

ALOHA Application Framework

ALOHA is a LabVIEW framework that is extensible. The modular design lends itself very well to team development. Programmers create simple modules that plug into the framework to add functionality, similar to apps on your phone.

The large scale systems we have developed with ALOHA have come together in a remarkably short time, and have shown excellent stability and scalability.- L. Free, Crane Aerospace

UI / UX Design

We design interfaces that are easy to use and look great. ​But even more important is a design that makes the software easy to use and intuitive to understand.

(Image obscured at customer request)

Semiconductor Manufacturing Process Control System

This system controls a complex process for manufacturing a gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates. The manufacturing process is delicate, involving many steps, precise timing, and accurate control of base materials. Safety is of concern, since the process involves the use of poisonous gases.

The software is a flexible system created with LabVIEW. It integrates a large number of transducers and controls using DeviceNet. A scripting system gives the scientists the ability to tweak their process without updating the program.

Aircraft Throttle Quadrant Test System

This test system automated the testing of a throttle quadrant assembly (TQA). As a manual process, it took as long as eight hours to complete, depending on operator experience.

The tester supports several different types of throttles. Each requires separate test procedures and connection hardware. The software and hardware is modular to allow support throttles for Boeing, Gulfstream, and Canadair.

Medical Research Vision System

This system was designed to allow the customer to evaluate a new technique of using an adhesive to assist in attaching tendon to bone. Operating under repeated stress of motion, the customer wished to capture the strength of the connection, looking for the failure point of the adhesive.

Accurate measurements are made in real time to watch the movement of the tendon during each motion sweep. An image is saved at the apex of each movement stroke and assembled together into a movie that shows the adhesive performance at the cyclic peak stress points. This provided a unique insight that cannot be observed visually in real time.

Medical Life Cycle Test System

This system was created as a research tool for the customer to analyze the performance of a product to enhance vascular surgical technique.

The system automates the process of monitoring a set of sample vessels. The system is capable of simulating a variety of physiological conditions to provide stresses on the samples. Unlike a human observer, the system is able to watch the entire process for days at a time and observe the very precise time and conditions of failure.

Computerized Museum Kiosks

This project involved overhauling the software for several kiosks in a health exhibition wing at a science museum. The systems were old DOS systems that were constantly breaking and had old, outdated interfaces badly in need of updating.

We gave them all a facelift with new LabVIEW GUIs and replace aging hardware with new computers and DAQ to increase reliability.